Radio construction



July 14, 1959 R. E. BOWERS 2,395,044

' RADIO CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 1, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

ROBERT E .BowERs ATTORNEYS July 14, 1959 R. E. BOWERS 2,895,044

RADIO CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 1, 1954 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 27 27 I a g H 37 INVENTOR. ROBERT BBQWERs WMWWMM ATToRHus United States Patent RADIO CONSTRUCTION Robert Edward Bowers, El Cerrit'o, Calif., assignor to IffiE-B, Inc., El Cerrito, Califi, a corporation of Calirnia Application November 1,1954, Serial No. 465,797

1 Claim. (Cl. 250-14) This invention relates to a new radio construction.

One object of this invention is the provision of a new and useful means for switching a radio from operative to inoperative position and woe versa.

Another object is the provision of a new and useful station selector.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and useful arrangement and location for the radio loudspeaker, namely, wherein the speaker is disposed at the bottom of the cabinet.

A further and more specific object is to provide a radio structure incorporating novel means for switching and station selection and which has the exterior appearance of a rural wall telephone of the crank type.

Another object is to provide a radio adapted to be supported on a vertical wall surface with the back of the cabinet flush against the wall.

Other objects will become apparent from an understanding of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation; and

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Figure 4 is ga front elevation with the cover removed and showing certain details in section;

Figure 5 is a partial front elevation with the cover removed showing a detail in section;

Figure 6 is a top view of a detail; and

Figure 7 is a side view, partially in section of another detail.

Essentially the invention comprises a radio receiver A, a cabinet B therefor, means for turning the radio on or off C, means for selecting a particular frequency D, and a loudspeaker E.

Referring now more particularly to the invention, a conventional, superheterodyne, radio receiver A having a chassis frame F is mounted on a back or base 2 as by screws 3. The base 2 is the back of cabinet B which houses the radio receiver A. Sides 4 and 5, and top 6 and bottom 7 of cabinet B are secured to the base 2 by suitable means such as screws, not illustrated. The top is vented as at 6a. Blocks 8 are cemented to the interior junctions of the sides 4 and 5 and the top 6, and the sides 4 and 5 and the bottom 7 for reinforcement. The front or cover 9 of the cabinet B is secured by four screws 10 threaded through cover 9 and into blocks 8.

The radio receiver A, being of a conventional construction, is connectable with a suitable source of power. The arrangement of cabinet, operating controls and radio components is such that the cabinet may be supported in any suitable fashion from a vertical wall surface and wherein the back 2 is flush against the wall.

A cord 12 which passes through an aperture 13 in side 4 is secured at one end to a weighted member 14 simulating a telephone receiver. The cord 12 is secured at the other end to the interior surface of the base 2 of cabinet B as by staples 15.

A hollow plunger 16, closed at its top and open at its bottom, extends vertically and slidably through a sleeve 17 in the top of chassis form F. The top of plunger 16 is formed with a head 18 of greater diameter than sleeve 17. A compression spring 19 is disposed in plunger 16 and abuts against the closed top of said plunger 16, the bottom of said spring 19 being secured to the interior bottom of switch box 20. v

A cross-bar 24 is carried at the lower end of the plunger 16 in a manner for the cross-bar and plunger to appear as an inverted T-shaped member 22. Nonconductive material, shown at 23 insulates the cross-bar 24 from the plunger 16. The cross-bar 24 is situated relative to contact points 25 and 26 so that spring 19 normally biases the cross-bar into contact with contact points 25 and 26 which in turn close the radio circuit (not shown).

One end of a substantially horizontal arm 27 is pivotally secured as at 27a to a vertical plate 27b carried by the chassis frame F. The plate 27b is in substantially the same horizontal .plane as head 18. The arm 27 overlies head 18 and is recessed on its lower side as at 28 to receive and make contact with said head.

The opposite end of said arm 27 is shaped and apertured to form a clevis 29.

A second arm 30 is forked or bifurcated at one end 32. The other end of said second arm 30 passes through the apertures in the clevis 29 and is secured therein by a set screw 33 threaded in the clevis 29. The second arm 30 thereby becomes unitary with arm 27 for purposes of operation. The second arm 30 extends through an elongated slot 34 in side 4 of cabinet B, the bifurcated end 32 being exterior to the cabinet B and simulating a wall telephone receiver hook.

The arm 27 and second arm 30 are arranged relative to plunger 16 so that spring 19, normally maintaining ,plunger 16 in a raised position, also normally maintains arms 27 and 30 raised. Conversely, depression of the bifurcated end 32 depresses the plunger 16.

Side wall 5 of cabinet B is formed with four apertures. Two of these apertures are designed to receive volume and tone controls 35 and 36. Knobs 37 ,and 38 are secured respectively to tone and volume controls 35 and 36, said knobs being exterior to side 5 of cabinet B,

A crank 39, simulating the crank on a rural wall telephone, occupies the third aperture and is rotatably secured by the following means: A stanchion 42 secured to radio receiver A is apertured to receive a sleeve 43 with a spacing collar 44, the spacing collar 44 being flush with one side of stanchion 42, and the end of the sleeve 43 protruding through the aperture being in threaded engagement with a nut 45, thereby securing the sleeve 43 on the stanchion 42.

A rod 46, slightly longer than the distance from the stanchion 42 to the side 5 of the cabinet B, is secured at one end to the crank 39, the rod fitting into a corresponding aperture in the end of crank 39 and secured therein by a set screw 47 in crank 39. The other end of said rod 46 passes slidably through sleeve 43 and is rotatably secured by a pin 48 disposed perpendicularly through its end.

The axle 49 of the tuner 52 is provided with two disks 53 and 54 at its end nearest side 5. One disk 53 is provided with indicia of standard radio station frequencies. The disk 53 is secured on the axle 49, and relative to the fourth aperture in side 5 for the numerals appearing in said fourth aperture to coincide with the frequency adjustment of tuner 52.

The second disk 54, located between the frequency indicator disk 53 and the tuner 52, is formed with a peripheral groove 54a. A taut cord 55 is looped around the rod 46 and the peripheral groove 54a.

A loudspeaker E of suitable conventional construction is included in the circuit of the radio receiver A. The loudspeaker E is secured face down over spaced slots 56 in the bottom 7 of the cabinet B. The slots 56 enable sound emission from the cabinet by way of the bottom thereof.

In addition to the bifurcated arm 30, the weighted member 14 and the crank 39, all described above as simulating telephone parts, the cabinet B is constructed generally to simulate the exterior appearance of a rural wall. telephone. A bracket 57 is secured to the exterior surface of the cover 9 by screws 58, and an arm 59 simulating a wall telephone speaker or mouthpiece is pivotally secured thereto. by nut and bolt arrangement 62.. Two hemispheres 63 and 64, simulating telephone bells, are secured to the exterior surface of cover 9 above the speaker arm 59 by screws 65 and 676. And a writing tray 67, including supports 68 and 69, is cemented to the exterior surface of the cover below said mouthpiece 59.

A bracket and screw 72, or other suitable means at the rear of base 2 is provided for supporting the cabinet B to a vertical wall surface.

Operation The power inlet is connected to a suitable source of electricity. Weighted member 14 is removed from the bifurcated end 32 of second arm 30.

Spring 19 forces plunger 16 up and the crossbar 24 of inverted T 22 makes contact with contact points 25 and 26, thereby closing the circuit.

As the tubes of the radio receiver A warm, the crank 39 may be turned, thereby moving cord 55 and consequently axle 49 and attached members. Having selected the desired frequency, volume and tone controls and 36 are adjusted as desired.

To turn the radio off, the weighted member 14 is suspended from the bifurcated end 32 of the second arm 30. This forces unitary acting arms 27 and 30 down, thereby depressing plunger 16 and inverted T 22 and breaking the circuit.

The foregoing description has been limited to one preferred embodiment to augment clarity. It will be apparent that numerous modifications are feasible with out departing from the scope of the appended claim.

Ielaim:

A radio receiver comprising a substantially rectangular chasis having electrical components mounted thereon electrically connected and arranged to provide a radio receiver; a cabinet for said chassis having a vertical back wall face and a rectangular hollow box mounted on said vertical back wall face; said chassis mounted on said vertical back wall face interiorly of said box; radio receiver control means connected to said chassis and projecting horizontally exteriorly thereof; said control means having rotatable shafts extending exteriorly of said box; an electrical circuit breaker adapted to render said radio receiver alternatively in the operative and inoperative condition; said circuit breaker having a body mounted interiorly of said chassis and rigidly connected thereto and an upwardly projecting electrical contact carrying tubular plunger; said plunger slidably mounted in said body to reciprocate in a vertical path; said plunger extending through the top wall of said chassis and projecting upwardly above said top Wall; electrical contacts mounted within said body and operably engaged with said plunger so that said contacts are rendered open when said plunger is in the downward position and closed when said plunger is in the upward position; a spring mounted in said body and operable to bias said plunger in the upward position; an arm pivotally secured at one end to a plate mounted on said chassis and extending above the top wall of said chassis; said arm having an opposite end extending to. a point adjacent. the inside wall of said box; a removable extensionv arm removably mounted on the end of said arm; said extension arm projecting outwardly from said box; said arm and extension arm disposed to rotate about said arm pivotal mount in a vertical path; said box being apertured to allow free vertical movement of said arm extension; said plunger being disposed directly under said arm between.

the arm pivotal mount and the extension arm; said plunger engaging with the underside of said arm to normally support said arm against downward rotation about the arm pivotal mount; and a weighted member removably mounted on the end of said arm extension exteriorly of said box to overcome said spring bias and.

force said arm to rotate said arm downwardly and position said plunger to the downward position wherein the electrical contacts are positioned in the open condition; said radio receiver including a loudspeaker mounted on the bottom of said box and facing downwardly; said box having apertures on the bottom face thereof in alignment with said loudspeaker to permit audio vibrations emanating from said loudspeaker to pass exteriorly from said box; the top face of said box being formed with apertures to provide air ventilation ports to aid in Cooling said receiver during operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES- PATENTS 1,150,413 Berry et a1 Aug. 17, 1915 1,226,389 Schulz May 15, 1917 1,537,228 Gargan May 12, 1925 1,577,727 Karge Mar. 23,1926 1,622,335 Mitchell Mar. 29, 1927 1,915,177 Berghane a- June 20, 1933 2,040,311 Horn et a1 May 12, 1936 2,165,693 Bross July 11, 1939 2,344,825 Lear Mar. 21, 1944 2,455,716 Weiss Dec. 7, 1948 2,487,013 Zibelman Nov. 1, 1949. 

